The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-30
The Inter State Commissioners.

The Interstate commissioners.
1t is generally conceded that the Pres
ident has done well in the appointment
of the members of the Interstate Rail-
road Commission.
Judge Thomas NJ. Cooley, who was
appointed for the term of six years and
who will be President Of the Commits
sion, is a man of great learning and
reputation. He is 60 years of age and
was licensed to practice law more than
forty years ago. He is native of New
York but has lived since he was nine
teen years of age in Michigan. In 1857
he was chosen by the Legislature to
compile the laws of the State, which
first brought him into general notice,
the work having been skillfully and
quickly done. The following year he
was chosen reporter of the Supreme
Court, an Office which he held until
1864, when he was elected Justice Of the
Supreme Court, place which he held
for twenty -one years. Besides he filled
law Professorship in the University
of Michigan, wrote his well-known work
on Constitutional Limitations, edited
an edition Of BlackstCne's commentaries,
published treatise on the law Of taxa
ton, and was a contributor to Appleton's
Cyclopedia, and voluminous writer in
the law magazines. Last Fall he was
appointed Receiver of the Wabash sys-
tenn of railroads, place which he was
holding at the time of his appointment
as member of the Railroad Commits
sion. He is a Republican in politics,
though it is charged against him by the
Republicans that he voted for Mr..
Cleveland.
Col. VIM. r. Morrison, who was APP
pointed for the term Of five years, is 50
years of age. He, too, is lawyer. His
first appearance in politics was as a
member Of the Illinois Legislature, in
which he served five terms, during one
of which he was Speaker of the lower
house. He was then elected member
Of the Thirty eighth Congress, but served
only one term, not being again returned
until the beginning of the Fortythird
Congress. He has been in Congress:
continuously ever since, but at the last
election he was defeated by Jehu Baker
a Republican, aided by the money o.
Eastern monopolists whose interests Col
Morrison had antagOnized as the leader
of the tariff reform Democrats in Con
gress. He is a man of rugged honesty
of indOmitable energy, and great cour
age.
Mr.. Augustus Schoonmaker, of New
York, who was appointed for the tern
of four years, is ffty-pine years of age
He was County Judge in 1868, mem
Der OF the State Senate in 1873, ant
Acknowledgement in 1877. He was tn,
Democratic candidate for Judge of tn
Court of Appeals in 1881. In May
1883, be was appointed by Mr.. Cleve
land, then Governor, member of tn
State Civil Service Commission, a posi-
ton which he has resigned to accept hi
new appointment.
Col. Aldace Walker, appointed TO
the term of three years, is Vermonter
supposed to have been appointed on th
recommendation of Senator Edmund:
who is a warm personal friend of Presi
dent Cleveland. Mr.. Walker for man
years enjoyed very large amount O
railroad practice as the partner of Judg
: John Prout, said to be the leadin
} chancery lawyer of Vermont. In 1873
( and 1884, he was member of the Stat
Senate as a Republican, to which part
he has always belonged, and was tn
father of the Railroad Commission BIZ
which passed the Legislature in 1885,
] and of the corporation tax law whic
was enacted in 1884, under which ado
quate taxes have been collected of tn
railroads in the State. He is about
years old.
Capt. Walter l.. Bragg, who was al
pointed for the tenn of two years, is
resident of Alabama, where he was Dor
y in 1888 and where he has lived continr
ously since his return to that State froI
Arkansas, his home from 1843 till til
commencement of the war. He is
graduate of Harvard University All
Cambridge Law School. He has been
leading Democrat in Alabama for som
:, years and las served as National Del
gate, Presidential Elector, member {
the Democratic National Committe
; and Chairman of the State COMMITTEE
In 1881 he was made President of ii
Alabama Railroad Commission an
served in that place with censiderab
ability for four years. By his enforc
ment of the law he incurred the hostilit
II of some of the railroad officials in AL
oama, and these turned up when b
\ name was suggested in connection wit
Tie National Commission, to antagonii
his appointment. But Mr.. Clevelan
having scrutinized his record with mol
); than ordinary care, decided that the
= was nothing in the objections offered.
1t will be seen that the Commission
composed of good men; well qualife
e by virtue of their past occupations an
t experience to perform the delicate an
+ responsible duties imposed on them b
e the terms of the law.
y Civil Liberty.
h